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Inauguration of Professor Jan van der Stoep: Rethinking stewardship
Climate change and loss of biodiversity have far-reaching consequences. How do they impact the space people occupy on Earth? When it comes to our role and responsibilities, should we step up or take a step back? “Rethinking stewardship can help us redefine our relationship with the planet,” says Jan van der Stoep, professor of Christian Philosophy at Wageningen University & Research, who will hold his inaugural address on 24 November.
Stewardship is a concept that is deeply rooted in Christian tradition. Yet the term is also widely used outside religious contexts to refer to someone who oversees an estate on behalf of a third party. Stewards are responsible for the careful management of a property with no ownership or land rights. “A steward is entrusted with making sure the land can be passed down to future generations,” says Van der Stoep, “while simultaneously taking into account the interests of people, animals, future generations and society as a whole.”
More than just management
Stewardship is much more than just management. It’s about helping other organisms flourish and thrive. Plants and animals are not objects; they have intrinsic value, argues Van der Stoep.
When it comes to stewardship, people have historically been the central focus. “We should ask ourselves if this is entirely justified,” says Van der Stoep. “After all, stewardship is about the connection between people and the planet. People are not separate and above nature, they are intimately connected with the soil and other organisms. Religious texts such as the Book of Genesis and the Book of Leviticus emphasise that people were made from the earth and that we should give the earth and our livestock the chance to rest periodically.”
Accountability is key
Stewardship, argues Van der Stoep, is important because it holds people accountable without asking too much of them. “Regenerative agriculture and new forms of cooperation between farmers and citizens complement stewardship nicely,” says Van der Stoep. “Knowing your place and doing what you can is what it’s all about.”
Jan van der Stoep (1968) studied biology in Wageningen and philosophy at VU Amsterdam. He holds a doctoral degree from VU Amsterdam (2005) for his research on Pierre Bourdieu and his political philosophy of multiculturalism. Van der Stoep is a professor occupying an endowed chair in Christian Philosophy at Kampen Theological University Utrecht. In Wageningen he teaches the philosophy of food ethics and intercultural philosophy. The Christian philosophy chair position was created in collaboration with the Foundation for Christian Philosophy (Stichting voor Christelijke Filosofie).